I’m not your lifesaver

Arthur's POV

I slammed my fist against the steering wheel of my car, curses spewing from my mouth. Nothing ever goes as I planned. How could this have happened? I had spent weeks planning this operation, and yet there I was, staring at a pile of ashes, with not a single thing to show for it.

I got to my mansion and I shouted at the men in the room, letting out all my rage and frustration. I cursed them inappropriately for their incompetence, for their lack of foresight, for their lack of loyalty.

My voice was filled with venom as I bellowed out my orders. All of them knew that they would be in danger because I was in a bad mood and as such, they all maintained themselves. I vowed to make the Scott family pay, Sebastian especially, he would regret killing my parents; he would regret making my sister and me orphans.

My voice grew quieter as I watched my men scurry away, a trail of fear in their wake. I had made my point, but it was not enough. I wanted more than just words. I wanted action. I wanted retribution. I sat in my chair, my breathing heavy, my thoughts dark. I had been manipulated by Sabastian Scott and I was determined to get my revenge. I would not rest until I had exacted my retribution. I would make that family pay, one way or another. He killed my family and I would make sure they would never forget it.

I stepped into the back of the mansion, my boots echoing off the walls. My men followed after me, their eyes wide with anticipation. I was in no mood for games. I walked into the garden and saw the plants and flowers so unkempt.

"What the hell is going on here?!" I barked, my voice reverberating off the walls. The men in front of me cowered. They knew better than to cross me. I took in the scene before me, trying to make sense of what had gone wrong. "Who's responsible for this?!" I demanded. My men all looked at each other, none of them daring to answer. I took a step closer, my hands clenched into fists.

"I said, who's responsible?!" I yelled, my voice echoing off the walls.

Finally, one of my men spoke up. "It was Frankie, boss," he said, his voice trembling. I shook my head in disbelief. Frankie had been one of my most trusted men, and now he had betrayed me.

"Where is he now?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous.

"He's gone, boss," the man answered. "His wife is seriously ill, so he had to run off to meet her and to take care of her."

I cursed loudly, my anger bubbling over. How dare he leave my mansion without my permission? He would pay for his insolence. I turned to my men and barked out orders. "Find him!" I ordered.

"Find him and bring him to me. I want to know why he would leave without seeking my permission and worse leave my garden unkempt."

My men nodded in agreement and scrambled to do my bidding. I watched them go, my fury seething inside me. No one crossed me and got away with it. I would make sure of that. Frankie had just made a big mistake, and since I was in a bad mood, he was going to receive a deserving punishment. I was sure of it.

I was pissed at myself because not only did Sebastian Scott escape, I had failed to get my revenge. I had failed to avenge the death of my parents. Unfortunately, Frankie is the scapegoat that I would vent my anger on.

I went back inside the mansion to check on Iris. I opened the door and I met her with one of the maids; Yuri. Yuri had helped her freshen up and had given her food to eat since we hit back. I had given all my staff strict orders to not let Iris out of her room, let alone out of the mansion.

We have not had the opportunity to talk since I brought her into my house so I decided to have one with her. "Yuri," I called out, "Leave us."

She bowed her head as she exited the room.

"Why are your legs on my bed? Do you think you're in your burnt mansion!" I snapped.

"I'm… I'm so sorry sir," she answered and struggled to position her leg on the blue marbled titles.

"Why did your family leave you in the fire?" I went straight to the point, I had no strength to play pity parties nor did I have the strength for chit-chat.

She let out a deep breath and started, "My birth mother died while birthing me. My father, Sabastian Scott, loved her so much and he blamed me for her death. My father remarried but my stepmother and her children don't like me either. I was cooking in the kitchen for them when the fire happened.  I did not notice it at first but when the food was ready, I went to the living room to inform my step siblings and that was when I saw the fire. They had left already and I guess they just forgot me in the fire. I would have died if you had not rescued me. Maybe they caused the fire themselves, who knows?" She explained, telling me her life story which I was in no way interested in.

I scoffed. She thought I was her lifesaver? The hell. If she had any idea how I wanted her dead, maybe she would try to respect me.  The only thing I couldn't understand was why her father hated her or why he would leave her to die while he fled away. What a nuisance!

Well, that wasn't my business, all I know is that I'm going to use the poor girl as bait for him and he would be back begging at my feet. She was innocent but I have no pity.

"Know one thing I am not your lifesaver"I said walking out of the room in anger.